Maiths Trin: The expansion of civilization.

Adventure at the edge of Civilization.

Royal Chartered Guilds

The royal chartered guilds are. Guilds that have been chartered from the Soveriegn of the realm and as such can have their guild laws enforced by the crown justice if need be. This is rarely done. However as it often considered a waste of the Sheriffs and courts time. Further most royal charted Guilds have the resources to deal with most unruly members without involving the law. Most of the Royal Chartered guilds are headquartered out of. The capital and have branch chapter houses in major centres. Charters are generally granted in areas that the Soveriegn wishes to have some say in the price of given goods, while some regional price differences are understood drastic shifts in price are not allowed without good reason.

Rules of the royal chartered guilds

These rules were included in the charters of the Craft Guilds and included:
◾A ban on, or fines imposed, on any illicit trading by non Craft Guild members
◾Fines were imposed on any Craft Guild members who violated the charter of their particular Craft Guild

Changes of prices have to be summited to the Crown for approval.
◾Members of the Craft Guilds were protected and any member who fell sick was cared for by the guild. Burials of guild members were arranged and the Craft Guilds undertook to care for any orphans
◾The members of Craft Guilds also provided protection of their horses, wagons, and goods when moving about the land as travelling can be dangerous, however Merchant guild often take the matter for many Guilds.

The Craft Guilds ensured that their craft or trade effectively became a ‘closed shop’ or monopoly preventing any outside competition. Prices were fixed between members of the Craft Guilds. And the Craft Guilds ensured that high standards of quality were maintained. The number of Craft Guild members were also regulated, allowing a restricted membership in order to ensure that the numbers of Craft Guilds did not exceed the business requirements.

To Become a member of royal chartered guilds

A man or woman will have to work through three phases to become a member of a Medieval Craft Guild during the Middle Ages.

◾Apprentice – A Craft Guild Apprentice is sent to work for a ‘Master’ during his early teens. The Craft Guild Apprenticeship lasted between 5 and 9 years depending on the trade. During this time the apprentice received no wages – just his board, lodging and training. An Apprentice was not allowed to marry until he reached the status of a Journeyman

◾Journeyman – A Craft Guild Journeyman is paid for his labour. During this time the Journeyman would create his ‘Masterpiece’, in his own time, which he would present to the Craft Guild as evidence of his craftsmanship in the hope of being accepted as a Craft Guild ‘Master’. It was difficult to reach the status of ‘Master’ and much depended on the Journeyman’s standing and acceptance by the top members of the Craft Guild

◾Master – A Craft Guild Master does set up his own workshop and then train his own apprentices

The Current Royal Chartered Guilds are:

Royal Guild of Millers
Royal Guild of Longshoremen
Royal Guild of Drovers
Royal Guild of Grain Merchants
Royal Guild of Timbermen
Royal Guild of Brewers
Royal Guild of Wheelwrights
Royal Guild of Salt Merchants